Occupational Therapy License from Tennessee to Virginia: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Can I use my Tennessee occupational therapy license in Virginia?
Yes, for working in Virginia — both Tennessee and Virginia are active members of the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact (OT Compact). If Tennessee is your primary state of residence and your Tennessee license is active and unencumbered, you can buy a compact privilege to practice in Virginia without a second license. A privilege is not a license transfer: if you are moving your residence to Virginia, you will need a Virginia license once Virginia becomes your home state.
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Verdict
Compact privilege — work there without a second license
Because Tennessee and Virginia are both issuing privileges, you may not need a Virginia license at all, provided Tennessee stays your home. An OT or OTA living in Tennessee with an active, unencumbered Tennessee license can practice in Virginia on a compact privilege. That changes if you relocate: living in Virginia makes it your home state, and the privilege gives way to a Virginia license from the Virginia Board of Medicine (regulates occupational therapy, with its Advisory Board on Occupational Therapy).
What's different between Tennessee and Virginia
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Virginia. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
Tennessee to Virginia (this page): Compact privilege — work there without a second license.
Virginia to Tennessee (the reverse move): Compact privilege — work there without a second license.
The route is the same in both directions.
- Does coming from Tennessee matter?
Coming from Tennessee matters here: only 10 of 50 origins (the other 49 states and DC) get this result for a move into Virginia.
The others get: licensure by endorsement (40).
- OT Compact membership
Tennessee and Virginia are both OT Compact member states.
A compact privilege lets you practice in Virginia while Tennessee is your home state; it is not a license, and a move to Virginia needs a Virginia license.
- Application fee
Virginia lists $130 for an out-of-state applicant and Tennessee lists $135 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.
- Exam rules on record
Virginia and Tennessee carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- Virginia (this move): The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken. Endorsement applicants submit 'verification of a professional credential in occupational therapy' (18VAC85-80-36), and the Board's application page tells applicants to have NBCOT send 'certification of credentials' directly to the Board; the underlying exam rule (18VAC85-80-50) requires evidence of passing the NBCOT certification exam. The sources read do not say that CURRENT NBCOT certification is required. No Virginia jurisprudence exam applies (the Commission lists Virginia's compact jurisprudence as 'Not required').
- Tennessee (the reverse move): The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken. Under Board Rule 1150-02-.05(2)(i) the reciprocity applicant must have NBCOT certification exam results sent directly to the Board (an NBCOT Score Transfer / verification of exam results). The rule asks for exam results, not proof of CURRENT NBCOT certification. Tennessee does not require a jurisprudence exam for licensure by reciprocity (the Commission also lists Tennessee's compact jurisprudence as 'Not required').
What changes, Tennessee → Virginia
| Tennessee (current) | Virginia (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| OT Compact status | Licensure by endorsement · OT Compact privilege (not a license) | Licensure by endorsement · OT Compact privilege (not a license) |
| Application fee | $135 ($125 non-refundable OT application fee + $10 state regulatory fee under Board Rule 1150-02-.06(4) as amended effective June 21, 2026 (OTA $100 + $10 = $110). The Board's online application checklist still shows the earlier $100 + $10 = $110 (OTA $85), so confirm the amount due at the end of the online application. The background-check vendor fee is paid separately. NOT the OT Compact privilege fee (Tennessee privilege: $125 OT / $100 OTA state fee + $75 Commission fee).) | $130 (initial OT license fee under 18VAC85-80-26 (OTA $70); non-refundable. NOT the OT Compact privilege fee (Virginia privilege: $75 OT / $40 OTA state fee under 18VAC85-80-26(A)(10), plus the $75 Commission fee).) |
| Processing time | no processing time is published; Board Rule 1150-02-.05(2)(f) says completed reciprocity files are ordinarily processed at the next Board meeting scheduled to review files, and the Board meets four times a year | no processing time found; the Board of Medicine's site (dhp.virginia.gov) was unreachable from this environment on 2026-09-27 |
| Licensing authority | Tennessee Board of Occupational Therapy (Tennessee Department of Health, Health Related Boards) | Virginia Board of Medicine (regulates occupational therapy, with its Advisory Board on Occupational Therapy) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Virginia sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm your home-state license is active and unencumbered and that your home state is your primary state of residence.
- To work in Virginia: purchase an OT Compact privilege for Virginia through the compact commission and complete any Virginia jurisprudence requirement.
- Keep your home-state license active — every privilege lapses with it.
- If you are moving your primary residence to Virginia: apply for a Virginia license with the Virginia Board of Medicine (regulates occupational therapy, with its Advisory Board on Occupational Therapy); a privilege does not follow you when your home state changes.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Do I retake the NBCOT exam moving from Tennessee to Virginia?
No. The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken.
Do I need a Virginia license or just a compact privilege?
A privilege is enough if you keep living in Tennessee and your Tennessee license stays active and unencumbered. If you move your residence to Virginia, you need a Virginia license from the Virginia Board of Medicine (regulates occupational therapy, with its Advisory Board on Occupational Therapy).
What does it cost?
A Virginia compact privilege costs the $75 commission fee plus Virginia's privilege fee. A Virginia license by endorsement, for a relocation: $130 (initial OT license fee under 18VAC85-80-26 (OTA $70); non-refundable.
How long does it take?
A privilege depends on your FBI background check through the Tennessee board and any Virginia jurisprudence step. A Virginia license by endorsement: no processing time found; the Board of Medicine's site (dhp.virginia.gov) was unreachable from this environment on 2026-09-27.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified Tennessee 2026-10-29, Virginia 2026-09-27.
- Virginia Board of Medicine — Occupational Therapy application wizard (Internet Archive copy, captured 2025-10-07; dhp.virginia.gov unreachable) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- 18VAC85-80-36 — Licensure by endorsement requirements (eff. December 3, 2025) (Internet Archive copy of law.lis.virginia.gov, captured 2026-05-17) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- 18VAC85-80-26 — Fees (Internet Archive copy of law.lis.virginia.gov, captured 2026-04-21) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- 18VAC85-80-50 — Examination requirements (Internet Archive copy of law.lis.virginia.gov) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- OT Compact Commission — Before You Apply (Virginia accepting applications since March 20, 2026; $75 OT privilege fee; jurisprudence not required) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Tennessee Department of Health — Board of Occupational Therapy ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Tennessee Board of OT — Occupational Therapist online application checklist (still lists the pre-June-2026 $100 + $10 fees) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Rules of the Tennessee Board of Occupational Therapy ch. 1150-02, June 2026 revision (1150-02-.05(2) reciprocity procedure; 1150-02-.06 fees, amended effective June 21, 2026) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources Tennessee 2026-10-29, Virginia 2026-09-27
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